Veteran India batter Dinesh Karthik added that it will be important for New Zealand to dismiss Team India captain Rohit Sharma early in their 2023 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. He also added that if New Zealand allows Sharma to get set, he will certainly take the game away from the opponent.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said: “If there is one player I don’t doubt who will do exactly what he has done so far in the tournament, it is Rohit Sharma. For me, he is the biggest wicket New Zealand will look to take. If he gets going, take it in writing from me that Team India will win the semi-finals.”
Rohit Sharma has been in sublime form in the mega event this year. He has shown positive intent at the top of the order, which has yielded benefits for the Indian team. With 503 runs from nine games at a strike rate of 121.49, Sharma is the second-highest run-getter for Team India in the 2023 World Cup as well.
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Dinesh Karthik added: “Team India, as immortal as they seem right now, are made up of good human beings who will feel the pressure like anyone else. It’s been a great tournament so far, but knockout games are obviously something very, very different. The pressure is different. We have seen how well India have played. All I want them to do is embrace the pressure. It is going to be a packed house in Bombay full of blue, and I’m sure they’ll relish it and put up yet another superb performance.”
Dinesh Karthik also shared how Pakistan batters and bowlers failed to make a significant impact throughout the competition which cost them the tournament.
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“There were a lot of flaws. Their opening partnership was very unsettled. Their middle-order batters, who are their top-quality batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, didn’t really get going. With the spinners, they were unable to take wickets, and the fast bowlers as well. Shaheen Afridi just picked up four wickets in the powerplay. He wasn’t great with the new ball. Haris Rauf, another big disappointment. But the good thing is that these are all young bowlers and they will come back strong,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.
